Kelly: That was a brutal way to close out the series. A 9-2 shellacking by Cleveland on Sunday, Tanner Bibee dominating with seven strikeouts in six and two-thirds innings, and Steven Kwan leading off with a homer to set the tone. The Twins are sitting at 70-79, third in the AL Central, and honestly, it feels like the season is slipping through their fingers.
Gary: It’s tough to watch when you have that kind of offensive output against you. We talked about the need for bounce-back energy yesterday, but this time, the opponent isn’t Cleveland. It’s New York. And frankly, the Yankees look like they’re still fighting for playoff positioning while the Twins are trying to salvage some pride before the offseason.
Kelly: Welcome back to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Kelly Smith, and alongside me is analyst Gary Martinez. This is your daily home for everything Minnesota Twins. If you’re new here, hit subscribe so you never miss a beat as we head into September.
Gary: Right. And today, we’re looking ahead to tonight’s game: New York Yankees at Minnesota Twins. We’ve got the injury report to unpack, we’re looking at who might take the mound, and we’re trying to figure out if there’s any path to victory for a team that just got blown out.
Kelly: Here is what we are covering today. First, we’ll break down the pitching matchup and see if the Twins can find any stability in the rotation after that rough outing against Bibee. Second, we’ll talk about the key hitters—specifically Emmanuel Rodriguez—and how the bullpen needs to manage its remaining arms. And finally, we’ll give you our keys to the series and a bold prediction for tonight’s game. Let’s get into it.
Kelly: Okay, Gary. Let’s start with the big picture. Yesterday, we predicted the Twins would split the three-game series against Cleveland. Well, Game Three didn’t go as planned. They lost 9-2. But now, they have to turn around immediately for the Yankees. Who do you think starts for Minnesota tonight?
Gary: Well, Kelly, the rotation is in shambles. Mick Abel is out on the 60-day IL, and Byron Buxton is also on the 60-day IL, though he’s an outfielder. Looking at the available starters, we’ve got Bailey Ober, Joe Ryan, Dean Kremer, Zebby Matthews, Connor Prielipp, and Taj Bradley. Given that Ober pitched recently and we discussed his potential dominance in our preview on the 11th, he might be too much of a risk right after that loss.
Kelly: That makes sense. You mentioned Joe Ryan earlier. We predicted he’d help them win Game Two, which they did, 4-3. Then we said Dean Kremer might start Game Three. Did Kremer start yesterday?
Gary: The brief doesn’t explicitly state the starting pitcher for yesterday’s 9-2 loss, but it does mention Tanner Bibee had seven strikeouts for Cleveland. That implies Bibee started for them. For the Twins, if Kremer didn’t pitch yesterday, he could be the guy tonight. Or maybe Zebby Matthews. The depth chart shows Matthews and Prielipp are both available. But honestly, the management might look at the bullpen usage here. With Colin Holderman on the 15-day IL and Shawn Armstrong on the 60-day IL, the relievers are getting stretched thin.
Kelly: So, if they don’t go with a starter who has been going deep into games, they have to be careful not to burn out Jeff Hoffman or A.J. Minter. What’s the matchup angle here? The Yankees are coming in hot. How does Minnesota handle their offense against a quality pitcher?
Gary: It’s a tough ask. When you look at the last game, the Twins scored only two runs. Plate discipline was likely an issue if they were facing Bibee’s stuff. The Yankees’ pitching staff is generally stronger than Cleveland’s. If the Twins can’t get on base, the scoring won’t happen. We need to see better OBP from the middle of the order. Austin Martin is day-to-day, which hurts their leadoff options. Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez are critical here.
Kelly: Let’s talk about those young hitters. Emmanuel Rodriguez had that huge moment against Cleveland, homering in his first career at-bat to spark a four-run inning in the 4-3 win. He’s showing promise. Do you think he can carry that momentum into tonight’s game against New York?
Gary: He absolutely can. Rodriguez is a center fielder with power potential. His launch angle is improving, and seeing him drive the ball with authority gives the lineup a spark. But the key is consistency. One big inning isn’t enough against a team like the Yankees. He needs to get on base multiple times. Josh Bell is also in the DH spot. Bell provides a steady presence in the middle of the order. If Rodriguez and Bell can string hits together, the Twins have a chance.
Kelly: And what about Brooks Lee? He’s playing third base. He’s been developing steadily. Does he factor into the equation tonight?
Gary: Lee is important defensively. If Royce Lewis is day-to-day at first base, that opens up some flexibility. Lewis is also day-to-day. So we might see a platoon situation or just Lee holding down third while someone else fills in at first. Defensively, Lee is solid. Offensively, he’s still finding his rhythm. But against the Yankees, every run matters. If the Twins can score even three or four runs, they keep it competitive.
Kelly: Three or four runs seems like a high bar after yesterday. But let’s assume they do. What happens in the late innings? The bullpen is a major concern. Travis Adams, Kody Funderburk, Yoendrys Gomez, Andrew Morris, Tommy Nance, Taylor Rogers, A.J. Minter, Jeff Hoffman. That’s a lot of arms, but several are injured or limited.
Gary: Exactly. The injury list is long. Gary Paredes is on the 60-day IL. Mick Abel is out. Byron Buxton is out. Rhys Hoskins is on the 10-day IL. Shawn Armstrong is out. And now we have Kaelen Culpepper and Royce Lewis listed as day-to-day. That means the active roster is thin. In the bullpen, Taylor Rogers is a veteran closer type, but he’s older. A.J. Minter is reliable. Jeff Hoffman has high velocity. But managing those arms is the challenge. If the game goes into extra innings, who closes it?
Kelly: I feel like we’ve talked about this before. Last week, we worried about the bullpen usage. Now, with so many guys out, the manager has to be very strategic. If they start a relief pitcher, does he go multiple innings? That’s risky. But if they don’t, they might run out of pitchers before the ninth inning.
Gary: That’s the dilemma. Platoon splits matter here too. If the Yankees are sending left-handed hitters against a right-handed reliever, that’s bad news. The Twins need to match their matchups carefully. Maybe A.J. Minter comes in early to eat innings if the starter struggles. It’s a tightrope walk. And if Kaelen Culpepper, their shortstop, is day-to-day, that affects the defense too. Ryan Kreidler might have to play more. Defensive errors can kill a lead quickly against a team like New York.
Kelly: So, defensive lapses plus bullpen fatigue equals trouble. Is there any positive storyline for the Twins tonight? Anything that suggests they can pull this off?
Gary: Home field advantage. They are playing at Target Center. The crowd can be electric. Also, the ABS challenge system tracker mentions team rankings. If the Twins are ranked well in certain metrics, that might indicate underlying strength despite the losses. But realistically, the biggest positive is the youth movement. Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Brooks Lee. These kids are hungry. They have nothing to lose. Sometimes, that freedom helps players perform better under pressure.
Kelly: Nothing to lose. I like that mindset. But the Yankees aren’t going to let them have fun. They’re a powerhouse. What about Trevor Larnach? He’s in left field. Can he contribute?
Gary: Larnach is a contact hitter. He can put the ball in play. Against a aggressive Yankees defense, he might be able to exploit gaps. But he’s not a power threat like Rodriguez. The Twins need power right now. They need extra-base hits. Josh Bell can provide that from the DH spot. If Bell and Rodriguez combine for multi-hit games, the Twins stay in it.
Kelly: Okay, let’s shift gears. We’ve talked about injuries, pitching, and hitting. What are the keys to the series for the Twins? If they want to win tonight, what needs to happen?
Gary: First, the starting pitcher needs to go at least five innings. No quick hooks. Give the bullpen a chance. Second, the middle order—Bell, Rodriguez, Lee—needs to produce at least two runs combined. Third, defense. No errors. Against the Yankees, mistakes are punished. If the Twins can execute defensively and get timely hits, they have a shot.
Kelly: Timely hits. That’s easier said than done. After a 9-2 loss, confidence might be low. Do you think the Twins can bounce back psychologically?
Gary: Psychologically, yes. Teams often respond to adversity. Especially young teams. They want to prove themselves. But execution is key. If they make poor decisions at the plate—chasing balls outside the zone—they will fail. Plate discipline is non-negotiable. They need to work counts, force the Yankees’ pitcher to throw strikes. That’s the only way to wear down the opposition.
Kelly: Alright, Gary. Bold prediction time. We’re going into tonight’s game. Yankees vs. Twins. Who wins, and what’s the score?
Gary: I’m going to say the Twins win. It’s a surprise, but I think Emmanuel Rodriguez continues his surge. He gets another hit, maybe two. Josh Bell drives in a run. The starter holds the Yankees to three runs over six innings. The bullpen manages to hold the line. Final score: Twins 4, Yankees 3.
Kelly: Wow. A 4-3 win for the Twins? That’s optimistic. But I’ll take it. A win is a win. Even if the season is slipping away, winning one more game feels good. Alright, listeners, that brings us to the end of our preview. Before we go, we need your help.
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Kelly: Thanks so much for listening. Make sure to rate, review, and share the podcast with your friends. It really helps us grow the community. Tonight, we’ll be watching the Twins try to steal one from the Yankees. Who’s with us?
Gary: Go Twins. Let’s see if they can flip the script after that Cleveland loss. Keep your eyes on Rodriguez and Bell.
Kelly: That’s it for today’s Beatline Podcast. I’m Kelly Smith, with Gary Martinez. See you tomorrow!